Backhoe



J. S. PlLCH Nov. 30, 1965 BACKHOE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1965 INVENTOR.

JO HN 6. PILCH ATTOPNLY J. S. PILCH Nov. 30, 1965 BAGKHOE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1965 E INVENTOR.

JOHN 8. 'Pl LC. H

ATTOPNEW Nov. 30, 1965 J. s. PILCH 3,220,579

BACKHOE Filed May 27, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 27 as 26 I3 48 0 a 44 INVENTOR JOHN 6. Pl L .ClI-\ J. S. PILCH Nov. 30, 1965 BACKHOE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1963 INVENTOR 4 JOHN s. "PILCH BY 4 A TTOP/VEK United States Patent 3,220,579 BACKHUE John S. Pilch, Ware Machine Works, Inc., PD. Box 140, Ware, Mass. Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No. 283,300

laims. (Cl. 214-138) This invention relates to tractor mounted backhoes or the like and has particular reference to the provision of a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe which includes means for detachably attaching and detaching a portion of said backhoe from the remainder thereof such that a portion of said backhoe may be retained upon the tractor after the detachment of the remainder thereof and during the operation of the tractor as other than a backhoe as, for example, as a loader or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe or the like which includes means for detachably attaching and detaching a portion of said backhoe from the remainder thereof such that a portion may be retained upon the tractor after said detachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe or the like which includes means for detachably attaching and detaching a portion of said backhoe from the remainder thereof such that a portion may be retained upon the tractor after said detachment without causing interference with the loading or other operations of the tractor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe of the type set forth which is so adapted that a portion thereof may be utilized as counterweights for the tractor during its loading or other operations.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe or the like which includes means of the type set forth for detachably attaching and detaching the backhoe base or support and adjacent members from the remainder of said backhoe such that said base or support and said adjacent members may be utilized as counterweights for the tractor during its loading or other operations.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe or the like which includes means of the type set forth for readily and speedily effecting such attachment and detachment.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe or the like which includes means of the type set forth, which means easily and simply effect such attachment and detachment.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tractor mounted backhoe or the like of the type set forth which includes new and improved means for supporting that portion of the backhoe which is adapted to be detached during the use of the remainder thereof as counterweights or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described as the preferred form of the invention has been given by way of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tractor and tractor mounted backhoe embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the form of backhoe shown in FIG. 1 with the detaching means of the present invention in attached or locked relation;

FIG. 3 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the detaching means in detached relation;

3,229,579 Patented Nov. 30, 1965 ice FIG. 4 is a view generally similar to that of FIG. 3,

but showing the detaching means in another form of detached relation;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the form of backhoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 showing the details of construction of the detaching means;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the attaching and detaching means; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the device shown in FIG. 1 includes a tractor designated generally at 10, having a frame 10a and Wheels 11, and a control box 12 mounted upon the stabilizers 13. A loader 14 is mounted upon the front of the tractor 10, and a backhoe or trencher designated generally at 15 is detachably connected to the rear of said tractor 10.

The backhoe or trencher 15 com-prises, basically, the base or support 16 detachably connected to the rear of the tractor It) by vertical pivots 17, boom support 13 detachably connected to said support 16, and a boom 19 carried by said boom support 18. A dipper stick 2% is pivotally connected at 21 to the boom 19, bucket 22 is pivotally carried by said dipper stick 2G.

The raising or lowering of said boom 19 and the pivotal movements of said dipper stick and bucket 22 are controlled in the conventional manner by hydraulic means 190, 20a and 22a respectively, said hydraulic means being connected by the hydraulic leads or lines 23 to a source of hydraulic pressure.

With particular reference to the detachable connection between the support and the boom support 18, said support 16 has a connecting member 24 on each side extending rearwardly therefrom. These connecting members 24 each have a lower rearward projection 25 with upwardly inclined cam surfaces 26 terminating in sockets 27, said cam surfaces 26 continuing below the center line of said sockets 27.

On the upper side of each of said members 26 is pivotally connected at 28 a threaded locking or securing member 29 having nuts 30 thereon, and each having an opening 31 therein for the insertion of a pin or the like for securing purposes. Members 29 are retained in position by lug 32 to align with fork 33 and stops 29a are provided upon support 16 to limit the rearward movement of said members 29. Due to the threaded locking or securing members 29, adjustment is possible for the taking up of any looseness or wear that might otherwise be present in the connection.

Adjacent their upper ends, each of connecting members 24 has a rearwardly projecting portion 34 with downwardly inclined cam or guide surfaces 35. Between members 24 is positioned guide member 36 which includes opening 37, said guide member 36 serving to guide the mating parts of the lock or connection into correct alignment and said opening 37 serving to permit passage of the hydraulic leads 23 through said lock or connection. Guide members 36, further, serve to prevent horizontal vibration between boom support 18 and support 16.

The forward or adjacent end of boom support 18 is provided with cooperating or mutually coacting means. This comprises a pair of forwardly extending spaced brackets or supports 38 on boom support 18, and spaced apart approximately the same distance as the members 24 Each of supports or brackets 33 carries a lug or boss 39 adjacent the lower front end thereof adapted to ride on cam surfaces 26 to sockets 27 where they are retained in assembled position. Supports 38 each have cam or wedge portions 40 adjacent their upper front edges adapted to engage cam or wedge surfaces 35 and each of supports 38 has an upwardly projecting lug or fork 33 forming sockets for the threaded members 29 whereby the supports 38 are locked in assembled relation with members 24.

Between the brackets 38 is an opening which serves to permit the passage of the hydraulic leads 23 therethrough on their way to the connectors 41 to the hydraulic leads .2; in the boom 19.

The boom 19 is provided with legs as supports 44 which are pivotally connected to said boom 19 at 45, said legs 44 being strengthened by means of the braces or bracing members 46 which are pivotally connected adjacent their opposite ends at 47 and 43 to the boom 19 and the legs 4 respectively.

Said legs 44 serve, in conjunction with the bucket 22, to support the detached portion of the backhoe in relation to the ground after such detachment. Said legs 44 further may be utilized as a fulcrum for assisting in the detachment of the boom support 18 from support 16, as hereinafter described.

In the operation of the device, with the boom support 18 detached from the support 16 and the detached portion of the backhoe being supported by the legs 44 and the bucket 22, when the operator of the device desires to connect such detached portion of the backhoe 15 to the re mainder thereof, he merely positions the rear of the tractor such that the support 16 is adjacent to the mating portions of the boom support 18 such that the lower portions of said members engage and hooks up the hydraulic leads 23 to the connectors 41. Then by movement of the bucket cylinder 19a, he urges the upper portions of the members into comating relation, thereby also causing the threaded securing members 29 to ride on the angular faces of lugs 33 and into locking position, lifts the legs 44 out of contact with the ground, and the backhoe is ready for operation.

Should members 29 not be so positioned as to ride on the lugs 33 and fall into locking position as described, such locking may also be performed manually.

Should the detached portion of the backhoe be positioned as is shown in FIG. 3 with the locking portions of the boom support 18 lower than the corresponding locking portions of the support 16, said boom support 18 is easily raisable to its proper. position. In order to accomplish such raising, all that the operator need do is to connect the hydraulic leads to the connectors 41 and either rotate the dipperstick 20 or the bucket 22 such that the bucket end of the boom 19 is lowered, such automatically raising the boom support 18. Then, after having obtained the proper height of the boom support 18, the locking process would continue as previously described.

Should the locking portions of the boom support 18 be higher than the corresponding portions of the support 16, as is shown in FIG. 4, the raising of either the bucket 22 or the dipperstick 20 will cause said boom support to fall to its proper height and, once there, the attachment would proceed as previously described.

In order to detach the detachable portion of the backhoe 15 from the remainder thereof, the legs 44 are lowered to the ground as a support, the threaded securing members 29 are opened, and either the dipperstick 20 or the bucket 22 rotated such that the bucket end of the boom 19 will drop downwardly. As such further end of the boom 19 drops downwardly, the legs 44 act as a fulcrum such that the portion of the boom support 18, in engagement with the support 16 slides out therefrom. The upper end of the attaching mechanism may be moved away from the point of attachment by the action of the hydraulic boom cylinder 19a, retraction of the boom cylinder 19a acting to pull the members 16 and 18 out of locking engagement. That accomplished, the tractor may then be used for loading or other purposes and that portion of the backhoe 15 remaining thereupon will act as counterweights during such loading operation or the like.

It will be seen from the above that a portion of the implement may be quickly detached from or attached to the tractor mounted implement supporting portion which remains connected to the tractor. This tractor mounted portion includes the control valve, stabilizer legs and the hydraulic jacks for the stabilizer and this tractor mounted portion serves as counterweight for loading or other purposes.

With the stabilizer legs and cylinders and controls remaining on the tractor, the stabilizer can be used for raising that end of the tractor if the tractor became mired or stuck or to change tires or for other purposes.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided new and improved means for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a backhoe or the like, a vehicle, a support member pivotally connected to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, an implement supporting member detachably connected to said support member, and means facilitating the connection of said members and for detachably connecting said members, said means including cooperative vertical self-aligning means on said members, cooperative horizontal self-aligning means on said members, and means for locking said members in operative relation, said implement supporting member including a boom and ground engaging means connected to said boom for supporting said boom when said members are disconnected.

2. In a backhoe or the like, a vehicle, a support member pivotally connected to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, an implement supporting member detachably connected to said support member, and means facilitating the connection of said members and for detachably connecting said members, said means including cooperative, vertical self-aligning means on said members, cooperative horizontal self-aligning means on said members, said horizontal self-aligning means comprising concave-convex guide means on one of said members and means on the other of said members adapted to be guided into operative relation, said implement supporting member including a boom and ground engaging means connected to said boom for supporting said boom when said members are disconnected.

3. In a backhoe or the like, a vehicle, a support member pivotally connected to said vehicle for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, an implement supporting member detachably connected to said support member, and means facilitating the connection of said members and for detachably connecting saidvmembers, said means including cooperative, vertical self-aligning means on said members, said vertical self-aligning means including cam means on one of said members and means on the other of said members adapted to be guided into operative relation by said cam means, cooperative horizontal selfaligning means on said members, said horizontal selfaligning means comprising concave-convex guide means on one of said members and means on the other of said members adapted to be guided into operative relation by said concave-convex guide means, and means for locking said members in operative relation, said implement supporting member including a boom and ground engaging means connected to said boom for supporting said boom when said members are disconnected.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,417,560 3/1947 McNamara 214 2,833,432 5/1958 Foster 214140 X 2,880,894 4/1959 Walker 214--138 3,003,651 10/1961 Holopainer 214138 3,034,587 5/1962 Dorkins et al 214-438 X 3,081,891 3/1963 Pryzybylski 214138 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BACKHOLE OR THE LIKE, A VEHICLE, A SUPPORT MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID VEHICLE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, AN IMPLEMENT SUPPORTING MEMBER DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, AND MEANS FACILITATING THE CONNECTION OF SAID MEMBERS AND FOR DETTACHABLY CONNECTING SAID MEMBERS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING COOPERATIVE VERTICAL SELF-ALIGNING MEANS ON SAID MEMBERS, COOPERATIVE HORIZONTAL SELF-ALIGNING MEANS ON SAID MEMBERS, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID MEMBERS IN OPERATIVE RELATION, SAID IMPLEMENT SUPPORTING MEMBER INCLUDING A BOOM AND GROUND ENGAGING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BOOM FOR SUPPORTING SAID BOOM WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE DISCONNECTED. 